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Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) Be aware that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and dietary supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products containing or claiming to contain red clover. Decisions to use herbs or supplements should be carefully considered. Individuals using prescription drugs should discuss taking herbs or supplements with a pharmacist or health care professional before starting.
Scientists have studied red clover for the following health problems: Menopausal symptoms, hormone replacement | Red clover is most frequently studied for the treatment of menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, and as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy. Blood pressure and triglyceride levels may be lowered. Because of conflicting evidence, it is not clear if red clover should be used for these purposes. Further high-quality research is needed before a recommendation can be made. | Osteoporosis (bone loss) | There is not enough reliable scientific evidence to recommend red clover for osteoporosis. If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis or are at high risk of developing osteoporosis, consult a health care professional. Osteoporosis can lead to serious complications, and there are several treatment options. | High cholesterol | A small number of studies report that red clover affects cholesterol levels. However, the results of these studies do not agree with each other. Therefore, it is not clear if red clover is helpful. If you have high cholesterol, consult a health care professional to find a treatment plan that is right for you. | Benign prostatic hypertrophy, prostate cancer | There is not enough scientific evidence to recommend red clover for benign prostatic hypertrophy or prostate cancer or for relief of associated hot flashes in prostate cancer patients. | Cardiovascular blood flow | Red clover has been shown to improve the flow of blood through arteries and veins. However, studies are limited, and more research is needed to make a conclusion. | Diabetes | Red clover has been studied in patients with type 2 diabetes to determine potential benefits in treating diabetic complications, such as high blood pressure and narrowing of the arteries and veins. Further research is needed to make a recommendation. |
Red clover has been suggested for many other uses, based on tradition or on scientific theories. However, these uses have not been thoroughly studied in humans, and there is limited scientific evidence about safety or effectiveness. Some of these suggested uses are for conditions that are potentially very serious and even life-threatening. You should consult a health care professional before using red clover for any unproven use. Acne
AIDS
Antioxidant
Anti-spasm
Appetite suppressant
Arthritis
Asthma
Bacterial infections
Blood purification
Breast cancer prevention
Breast pain
Bronchitis
Burns
Cancer
Cancer prevention
Canker sores
Cardiovascular disease
Cognitive function | Cough
Diuretic (water pill)
Eczema — used as a cream
Endocrine-responsive cancer
Gout
Increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
Indigestion
Osteosarcoma
Premenstrual syndrome
Psoriasis — used as a cream
Sexually transmitted diseases
Skin sores — used as a cream
Skin ulcers — used as a cream
Sore eyes
Tuberculosis
Whooping cough (pertussis) |
Allergies People with known allergies to products containing red clover or isoflavones should avoid using red clover. Side Effects No serious side effects have been reported in people using red clover for up to one year, but there are some theoretical risks because of the estrogenlike properties of red clover. These may include breast tenderness, weight gain, hormonal problems that affect menstruation or fertility and endometrial hyperplasia that may increase the risk of uterine cancer. In theory, red clover may increase the risk of bleeding. You may need to stop taking red clover before undergoing any surgical procedures; discuss this with a health care professional. Red clover has been studied for lowering blood sugar with inconclusive results. Caution is warranted until further research is available. Pregnancy And Breast-Feeding Red clover should be avoided in pregnant or breast-feeding women because of its estrogenlike properties. Animal studies have linked red clover to infertility and abortion, as well as to cancer in offspring.
Interactions with drugs, supplements and other herbs have not been thoroughly studied. The interactions listed below have been reported in scientific publications. If you are taking prescription drugs, speak with a health care professional or pharmacist before using herbs or dietary supplements. Interactions With Drugs There is evidence that red clover may interfere with the way the liver processes certain drugs. As a result, red clover may cause the levels of drugs in the body to be too high, leading to serious side effects. Red clover has been studied for its effects on blood sugar; caution is advised if you are taking medications that lower your blood sugar. Ask a health care professional or pharmacist for advice before you take red clover if you are using drugs to treat other medical conditions. In theory, red clover may increase the risk of bleeding when used with anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs. Examples include warfarin (Coumadin), heparin and clopidogrel (Plavix). Some pain relievers may increase the risk of bleeding if used with red clover, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve, Anaprox). Red clover is believed to have estrogenlike properties and may alter the effects of hormone therapies or levels of hormones that control menstruation and fertility. Interactions With Herbs And Dietary Supplements In theory, red clover may increase the blood levels of herbs processed by the liver, such as chasteberry ( Vitex agnus-castus). Red clover may increase the risk of bleeding when taken with other products that are believed to increase the risk of bleeding. Examples include Ginkgo biloba and garlic ( Allium sativum). Because red clover contains estrogenlike chemicals, the effects of other agents believed to have estrogenlike properties may be altered. Examples include black cohosh ( Cimicifuga racemosa) and soybean ( Glycine max). Red clover has been studied for its effects on blood sugar; caution is advised if you are taking medications that lower your blood sugar.
The doses listed below are based on scientific research, publications or traditional use. Because most herbs and supplements have not been thoroughly studied or monitored, safety and effectiveness may not be proven. Brands may be made differently, with variable ingredients even within the same brand. Combination products often contain small amounts of each ingredient and may not be effective. The appropriate dosing should be discussed with a health care professional before starting therapy; always read the recommendations on a product's label. The dosing for unproven uses should be approached cautiously, because scientific information is limited in these areas. Red clover dosing is often based on the amount of one of the chemicals present in the products, called isoflavones. Products often contain 40 milligrams of isoflavones per tablet, but you should check labels carefully. For Menopausal Symptoms, Hormone Replacement Therapy Or Osteoporosis Adults (Aged 18 Or Older) Tablets: A dose of 40 to 160 milligrams of red clover isoflavones per day has been taken by mouth. A red clover-derived isoflavone supplement that provided a daily dose of 26 milligrams of biochanin A, 16 milligrams of formononetin, one milligram of genistein, and 0.5 milligrams of daidzein was studied for one year for bone density. Another study used 50 milligrams per day for four weeks. Several studies provided red clover in the form of Promensil (82 milligrams total isoflavones) or Rimostil (57.2 milligrams total isoflavones). For High Cholesterol Adults (Aged 18 Or Older) Tablets: A dose of 28.5 to 85.8 milligrams of red clover isoflavones per day has been taken by mouth. For Breast Cancer Prevention Adults (Aged 18 Or Older) A red clover-derived isoflavone tablet containing 26 milligrams of biochanin A, 16 milligrams of formononetin, one milligram of genistein, and 0.5 milligrams of daidzein has been studied. For Cardiovascular Disease And Endocrine-Responsive Cancer Adults (Aged 18 Or Older) A dose of 86 milligrams per day for one month has been studied. For Diabetes Adults (Aged 18 Or Older) 50 milligrams and 86 milligrams per day of red clover isoflavones per day have been studied for diabetic complications. For Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy Adults (Aged 18 Or Older) A dose of 40 milligrams of red clover isoflavones per day (Trinovinฎ) has been studied. For Other Conditions Red clover has been used for other conditions and in other forms (for example, as a tincture). However, there is not enough scientific evidence to recommend these uses. Dosing has not been studied in children and is not recommended.
Although red clover has been suggested for many uses, there are not enough high-quality studies to recommend it for any medical condition. In suggested doses, red clover has been well tolerated for up to one year in studies in humans. Patients taking anticoagulants (blood thinners), hormonal therapies or long-term drugs for chronic conditions should use red clover cautiously and should consult a health care professional or pharmacist to discuss possible side effects. Red clover should be avoided in pregnant or breast-feeding women. Consult a health care professional immediately if you have side effects. The information in this monograph was prepared by the professional staff at Natural Standard, based on thorough systematic review of scientific evidence. The material was reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School with final editing approved by Natural Standard.
- Natural Standard: An organization that produces scientifically based reviews of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) topics
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM): A division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services dedicated to research
Selected Scientific Studies: Red Clover Natural Standard has reviewed all of the currently available medical literature to prepare the professional monograph from which this version was created. Some of the more recent studies are listed below: - Abernathy K, Brockie J, Suffling K, et al. An open study of the effects of a 40 mg isoflavone food supplement (derived from red clover), on menopausal symptoms. Brit Menopause Soc 2001.
- Atkinson C, Oosthuizen W, Scollen S, et al. Modest protective effects of isoflavones from a red clover-derived dietary supplement on cardiovascular disease risk factors in perimenopausal women, and evidence of an interaction with ApoE genotype in 49-65 year-old women. J Nutr 2004;Jul, 134(7):1759-1764.
- Atkinson C, Compston JE, Day NE, et al. The effects of phytoestrogen isoflavones on bone density in women: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;Feb, 79(2):326-333.
- Atkinson C, Warren RM, Sala E, et al. Red-clover-derived isoflavones and mammographic breast density: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Breast Cancer Res 2004;6(3):R170-179. Epub 2004;Feb 24.
- Barnes S. Phyto-oestrogens and osteoporosis: what is a safe dose? Br J Nutr 2003;Jun, 89(Suppl 1):101-108.
- Beck V, Unterrieder E, Krenn L, et al. Comparison of hormonal activity (estrogen, androgen and progestin) of standardized plant extracts for large scale use in hormone replacement therapy. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2003;Feb, 84(2-3):259-268.
- Blakesmith SJ, Lyons-Wall PM, George C, et al. Effects of supplementation with purified red clover (Trifolium pratense) isoflavones on plasma lipids and insulin resistance in healthy premenopausal women. Br J Nutr 2003;Apr, 89(4):467-474.
- Boue SM, Wiese TE, Nehls S, et al. Evaluation of the estrogenic effects of legume extracts containing phytoestrogens. J Agric Food Chem 2003;Apr 9, 51(8):2193-2199.
- Campbell MJ, Woodside JV, Honour JW, et al. Effect of red clover-derived isoflavone supplementation on insulin-like growth factor, lipid and antioxidant status in healthy female volunteers: a pilot study. Eur J Clin Nutr 2004;Jan, 58(1):173-179.
- Clifton-Bligh PB, Baber RJ, Fulcher GR, et al. The effect of isoflavones extracted from red clover (Rimostil) on lipid and bone metabolism. Menopause 2001;8(4):259-265.
- 11. Coon JT, Pittler MH, Ernst E. Trifolium pratense isoflavones in the treatment of menopausal hot flushes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytomedicine. 2007 Feb;14(2-3):153-9.
- Howes JB, Bray K, Lorenz L, et al. The effects of dietary supplementation with isoflavones from red clover on cognitive function in postmenopausal women. Climacteric 2004;Mar, 7(1):70-77.
- Howes JB, Tran D, Brillante D, Howes LG. Effects of dietary supplementation with isoflavones from red clover on ambulatory blood pressure and endothelial function in postmenopausal type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Obes Metab 2003;Sep, 5(5):325-332.
- Howes J, Waring M, Huang L, Howes LG. Long-term pharmacokinetics of an extract of isoflavones from red clover (Trifolium pratense). J Altern Complement Med 2002;Apr, 8(2):135-142.
- Howes JB, Sullivan D, Lai N, et al. The effects of dietary supplementation with isoflavones from red clover on the lipoprotein profiles of post menopausal women with mild to moderate hypercholesterolaemia. Atherosclerosis 2000;152(1):143-147.
- Howes JB, Tran D, Brillante D, Howes LG. Effects of dietary supplementation with isoflavones from red clover on ambulatory blood pressure and endothelial function in postmenopausal type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Obes Metab 2003;Sep, 5(5):325-332.
- Knight DC. The effect of Promensil, an isoflavone extract, on menopausal symptoms. Climacteric 1999;2:79-84.
- Moyad MA. Complementary/alternative therapies for reducing hot flashes in prostate cancer patients: reevaluating the existing indirect data from studies of breast cancer and postmenopausal women. Urology 2002;Apr, 59(4 Suppl 1):20-33.
- Natural Standard Research Collaboration, Chief Editors: Ulbricht C, Basch E, Natural Standard Herb and Supplement Reference - Evidence-Based Clinical Reviews, USA: Elsevier/Mosby, 2005.
- Nestel PJ, Pomeroy S, Kay S, et al. Isoflavones from red clover improve systemic arterial compliance but not plasma lipids in menopausal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1999;84(3):895-898.
- North American Menopause Society Treatment of menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms: position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause 2004;Jan-Feb, 11(1):11-33.
- Parvu E. Trifolium pratense for breast disease: a case series. Homeopathy 2004;Jan, 93(1):45-50.
- 21. Rotem C, Kaplan B. Phyto-Female Complex for the relief of hot flushes, night sweats and quality of sleep: randomized, controlled, double-blind pilot study. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2007 Feb;23(2):117-22.
- Schult TM, Ensrud KE, Blackwell T, et al. Effect of isoflavones on lipids and bone turnover markers in menopausal women. Maturitas 2004;Jul 15, 48(3):209-218.
- Teede HJ, McGrath BP, DeSilva L, et al. Isoflavones reduce arterial stiffness: a placebo-controlled study in men and postmenopausal women. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2003;Jun 1, 23(6):1066-1071. Epub 2003 Apr 24.
- 24. Tempfer CB, Bentz EK, Leodolter S, et al. Phytoestrogens in clinical practice: a review of the literature. Fertil Steril. 2007 Jun;87(6):1243-9.
- Tice JA, Ettinger B, Ensrud K, et al. Phytoestrogen supplements for the treatment of hot flashes: the Isoflavone Clover Extract (ICE) Study. A randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2003;Jul 9, 290(2):207-214.
- Umland EM, Cauffield JS, Kirk JK, et al. Phytoestrogens as therapeutic alternatives to traditional hormone replacement in postmenopausal women. Pharmacother 2000;20(8):981-990.
- van de Weijer PH, Barentsen R. Isoflavones from red clover (Promensil) significantly reduce menopausal hot flush symptoms compared with placebo. Maturitas 2002;Jul 25, 42(3):187-193.
Last updated September 03, 2008
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